In this article we will answer the question: what genre does “Harry Potter” belong to? A series of novels by J. Rowling has long received worldwide fame and entered the ranks of bestsellers. Films and video games were released based on the works. Despite the fact that the last novel was released back in 2007, books continue to enjoy dizzying popularity among both children and adults.
Description
But how to characterize the Harry Potter cycle? To determine the genre of a work is not as difficult as it might seem. But first, some information about the series itself. In total, the cycle included 7 books of the main history plus one more edition-script “The Cursed Child”, which Russian readers can read only in December 2016. The first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, appeared on store shelves in 1997. At the same time, publishers have long refused to publish Rowling. And only open readings arranged by the writer helped to convince them that the book is very popular with children.
Harry Potter: The Genre
The cycle belongs to the fantasy genre, which is quite young in literature. It was formed only at the beginning of the 20th century. It is characterized by the use of fabulous and mythological motifs. These are actually unreal stories about fictional people. So, in the books about Harry Potter we can find fairy tales, magical animals, references to mythology, etc. This cycle cannot be attributed to the genre of a fairy tale, as it has too complex a plot and extraordinary characters with strong psychological experiences and changes in characters.
The Philosopher's Stone: Summary
Let's start with the first adventure that Harry Potter survived. The genre of the work implies the presence in the works of some kind of magical world. So, the events of the novel unfold at once in two realities - Muggle, that is, where ordinary people live, and magical, which is adjacent to the ordinary.
So, the magic war ends, as it disappears after the murder of Harry's parents, its instigator - the dark magician Voldemort. An orphan is given to his aunt Muggle for education. Harry, up to 11 years old, lives in their family, not knowing his origin. But the truth is revealed. He found himself a wizard. Now the young man has to study at a magic school called "Hogwarts."
Harry goes to school and finds new friends - Ron and Hermione. He also finds the enemy - Draco Malfoy. At the same time, strange events occur connected with the philosopher's stone, which can make its owner immortal. It turns out that the hunt for the artifact is conducted by none other than Voldemort, seriously weakened after trying to kill little Harry. Fortunately, the boy manages to deal with the dark magician a second time.
"Chamber of Secrets"
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts after summer break. The genre of the work at the same time dictates its own rules, making the story fabulous and mysterious - a mythical animal is declared in the dungeons of the school. Pupils of Muggle origin begin to disappear. In the corridors, they are talking more and more about the curse of Salazar Slytherin.
According to legend, one of the founders of Hogwarts hid a creature in its walls that was supposed to plague all the Mudbloods at school. The fault lies with Tom Redle's diary. That is what Volan de Mort was once called. In this artifact, it turns out to be a part of the soul of the Dark Lord, which calls the beast. But Harry and his friends once again manage to win.
"Prisoner of Azkaban"
This time, before returning to the Hogwarts, Harry Potter escapes from home. The genre of the work manifests itself again, and the reader can find out how magicians live and travel. Harry finds himself in the Leaky Cauldron magic tavern. Here he learns alarming news - the Death Eater, Sirius Black, escaped from the Azkaban prison.
Our hero goes to school. He still does not know with whom he will meet. In winter, Harry learns about Black's involvement in the death of his parents and decides to take revenge. However, everything turns out to be untrue. Unfortunately, Harry fails to prove Sirius' innocence. But he arranges for him to escape.
"Goblet of Fire"
It turns out at the Quiditch Championship Harry Potter. The genre of the book, as noted, is fantasy, but adventure motifs are also traced in the narrative. Harry and his friends survive the Death Eaters attack right in the competition. Then the young man arrives at the Hogwarts. It is becoming known that a magical tournament will be held between magic schools.
Our hero against his will is among the participants. He miraculously manages to pass the tests and survive. And now, in the very finale, he touches the winner's cup. But instead of congratulations, he will meet with Voldemort, who is eager to regain his former power. Harry manages to escape from the Death Eaters and their resurrected lord. But one of the Hogwarts students is dying.
"Order of the Phoenix"
Harry on a summer vacation visits the house at the Drusley. He and his cousin Dudley survive the attacks of the Dementors. Harry was almost expelled from school for using magic. Soon he was taken away from the Drusley and brought to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, which was created to fight Voldemort, where he remains until the end of the holidays.
At the same time, big changes are taking place at Hogwarts. The Ministry of Magic, which denies the return of the Dark Lord, appoints Dolores Umbridge as one of the teachers, who should also inspect the school. Harry and his friends create a society called Dumbledore's Squad, where they learn defensive spells. Umbridge soon manages to uncover them. Dumbledore admits that it was his idea, and escapes. Umbridge becomes Director. Harry has strange dreams that lead him to the Department of Secrets, where the Death Eaters are already waiting. There is a battle after which the Ministry has to admit that Voldemort has indeed returned.
"Half-blood prince"
The series "Harry Potter" (the genre of the book, the first and all subsequent ones - fantasy) "grows" with its reader. And if the first books were recommended to schoolchildren who were 8 years old, then this part is already intended for teenagers from 12.
In England, strange things happen. At the same time, Snape vows to help Draco Malfoy kill Dumbledore. Harry returns to school. He notices that Draco is behaving strangely, and begins to follow him. At the same time, a Potions textbook, which once belonged to a half-blood Prince, fell into his hands.
Dumbledore tells Harry what he managed to learn about Voldemort's life, and about the crucifixes - artifacts in which the Dark Lord enclosed parts of his soul. Potter and Dumbledore set off in search of one of these gizmos. Upon their return, Draco is already waiting for them. He fails to kill the director, then Snape does it for him.
Deathly Hallows: Summary
This is the last book in the main Harry Potter series. We hope you already understand which genre of the book. So Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run. The School was taken over by the Death Eaters, and Snape became the principal. The main characters are not only hiding from the dark magicians, but also are looking for crucifixes.
Soon they realize that one of them is at the Hogwarts, and the last Voldemort always keeps it with him. Friends secretly make their way to school. Together with the teachers, they manage to expel the Devourers from Hogwarts. But Voldemort is not going to retreat so easily. He leads the army to the walls of the school. There is a battle. The Horcruxes are destroyed, and then Harry defeats the Dark Lord. The war is ending.
Reviews
So, we answered the question: "Harry Potter - what is this genre?" Now a little about reader reviews. It is probably unnecessary to say that the cycle has crowds of fans and fans of all ages. At the same time, it is almost impossible to find negative reviews about books or listing any shortcomings. Audiences really like the characters, their characters and description.
Many are delighted with the exciting plot - any book is read in one breath. People note interesting literary tricks that the author uses. Thanks to various metaphors, hyperbolas and other shapes, the text becomes more saturated.
Readers also praise the writer’s special style, unusual and original. Indeed, her books cannot be confused with the creations of other pen workers. In a word, everything is fine in this series - the plot, the characters, the idea and the embodiment. Therefore, if you have not read a single book about Harry Potter, we recommend that you fix this as soon as possible.